Spring Onions also known as scallions is a must have in my potted garden,i always a batch of them growing at all times.Its probably one of the easiest greens that a novice gardener or anybody with a brown thumb can grow,non fuss,simple,can handle a bit of neglect and almost free from the dangers of any pest attacks, and even better it does not need much space to grow and can be easily grown in pots/containers in your balconies,terrace gardens or gardens.So here is a step by step pictorial guide on growing your own spring onions using old onions that have sprouted and have been lying in your kitchen pantry for long.
Begin by taking a few sprouted onions make sure they are nice and firm because they have sprouted and have been lying for some time there are chances that some might be rotten, spoiled or mushy from within.
Once you have sorted and picked the good ones, begin by peeling off the top skin and a few layers of the onions, this step is important as it assures that the skin and peels don't rot in the soil,which may in turn rot the bulbs.
Next get the potting soil ready by mixing equal quantities of garden soil( you can use red soil,black soil or loamy soil),coco peat and compost/aged manure/vermi-compost,mix everything up together so that all of the potting soil ingredients are well incorporated.
Fill the soil in a pot/container make sure the pot has holes for water drainage.Once you have filled the soil press it down to remove any excess air pockets or gaps.Now simply stick the sprouted onions in the soil and cover lightly,don't bury them deep inside, simply place them on the surface and make sure the sprouted top remain exposed.
Its important to start with a good potting soil mix that's full of organic matter and rich in hummus as we will not be adding any additional fertilizers once the sprouted onion bulbs are sowed in the soil.
You can place the pot in part or full sun,2 to 3 hrs of direct sunlight is more than sufficient to grow them.Spring onions love moist soil and grow quickly,until the green sprigs emerge simply sprinkle water on the top of the soil,making sure that it remains moist at all times but not waterlogged.Incase the tempratures and weather where you live are too hot or humid you can sprinkle water twice a day.
Within a weeks time the green sprigs will emerge from the soil once this happens it will grow rapidly.At this stage you can begin watering the spring onions but only at the base.
The trick to growing upright spring onions without any droopy or bent leaves is by avoiding pouring water on them,always water at the base,spring onions hate over head watering as they tend to bend over this way,making the leaves look untidy and giving it a messy appearance. Also avoid pouring water with force.
Planting bigger sprouted onion bulbs will give you better and larger green springs,so basically planting small onions will result in small sized springs.
In about 3 weeks time your spring onions will be ready for harvest,Now if you would like to have a continuous supply of spring onions you can snip only the green tops out using a clean and sharp pair of garden scissors,leaving the bulbs in the soil itself in a weeks time you will see new growth.
You can get two or three harvests using the snipping as much as you need method,because the green tops tend to become slimy and fibrous after a few harvests.Also once you cut the green tops and let them re-grow the spring onion will not produce a flower bud and go to seed.If you wish to let it seed just leave the spring onions to mature on their own without removing any of the leaves.
I personally do not use the snipping method,i prefer waiting and pulling out the entire bulbs with the greens,once they reach about a foot and a half or so in height.
Home grown spring onions are crisp,fresh and vibrant green in color,nothing beats the joy and satisfaction that you get by growing,harvesting,cooking and eating the produce that you grow yourself organically.Spring Onions are great raw in salads,they can be stir fried, and they make a wonderful garnish in soups,fried rice,omelettes, and porridge.
I simply Stir fried the spring onion greens i harvested with along with some potatoes,salt and pepper as a side dish and had it with some rice and lentils :-) Happy Gardening ♥
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